The Simpsons: Ranking The 5 Best Treehouse of Horror Episodes

With the spooky season upon us, let’s look at the best Treehouse of Horror episodes to watch this season. 

The Simpsons always provide us with great Halloween episodes each season. Treehouse of Horror episodes are the show’s opportunity to spoof some great horror and sci-fi shows and movies. There have been some legendary episodes, so which ones should you watch this season? Here are the five best Treehouse of Horror episodes to watch.

5. Treehouse of Horror III (1992)

The third edition had a trio of excellent stories, told by Grandpa, Bart, and Lisa. Seeing Homer as a giant ape in a King Kong parody was an obvious but excellent choice. The Simpsons avoid zombies in another story, where it turns out Homer doesn’t have enough brains for their appetite. Of the stories, the best is a riff on Child’s Play with a murderous Krusty doll. This episode also is one where all the stories end with happy endings, which is not the usual case for the non-canon Treehouse episodes.

4. Treehouse of Horror VII (1996)

This is an episode with three excellent segments. The first is one of the most memorable, introducing us to Bart’s formerly-conjoined evil brother Hugo. To the surprise of nobody, Bart was actually the evil twin (go figure). Lisa then becomes a deity to her science project in a tribute to a Twilight Zone episode. Finally, Kang and Kodos abduct Bill Clinton and Bob Dole to interrupt the election and skewer the U.S. political system.

3. Treehouse of Horror (1990)

The first-ever Treehouse of Horror treads on some old classic horror tropes. We meet Kang and Kodos for the first time after they abduct the Simpsons. Turns out they are very special dinner guests. We also get a version of The Amityville Horror with a house that wants the Simpsons to all become murderers. The most iconic part of the episode is a retelling of Edgar Allen Poe’s The Raven. Homer slowly losing his mind because of a Bart-raven? Amazing.

2. Treehouse of Horror V (1994)

Two famous horror films get the Simpsons spoof treatment in this episode. We get a retelling of The Shining with Homer going insane. No beer and no TV will do that to a person. Principal Skinner has Springfield Elementary channel Soylent Green when he turns kids in detention into food. We also get a time-traveling story where Homer keeps messing up small pieces of the past to get good or terrible presents. The best part of the overarching episodes is Groundskeeper Willie trying to help in each story and getting an ax to the back for his trouble.

1. Treehouse of Horror VI (1995)

The best Treehouse of Horror has two of the most iconic and memorable segments. It opens with all the big billboards & advertising mascots coming to life and destroying Springfield, which is okay. Then it’s Groundskeeper Willie haunting the school kids in their dreams. He makes a perfect Freddy Kreuger. Then Homer goes 3D in an alternate dimension in the final story. It was groundbreaking animation, scary, and memorable. With great storytelling and fantastic homages, it’s the best Treehouse of Horror to watch this season.

Evan Gomes is a freelance pop culture & sports writer. Follow him on Twitter at @ItsEvanGomes, and check out his two podcasts: Crossbody of Work and The Pop Capsule Podcast.